Foldable shoe sole

ABSTRACT

A foldable shoe sole ( 1 ) includes an upper sole ( 11 ) and a lower sole ( 12 ) fixed to an underside of the upper sole ( 11 ). The lower sole ( 12 ) includes first, second, and third sheets ( 121, 122, 123 ). The first sheet ( 121 ) is located between the second and third sheets ( 122, 123 ). The first sheet ( 121 ) includes triangular cross sections and has first, second, and third apexes. The first apex is located on an inner side of the foldable shoe sole ( 1 ). The second and third apexes are located on an outer side of the foldable shoe sole ( 1 ). A first groove ( 124 ) is formed between the second sheet ( 122 ) and a first side of the lower sole ( 12 ) extending between the first and second apexes. A second groove ( 125 ) is formed between the third sheet ( 123 ) and a second side of the lower sole ( 12 ) extending between the first and third apexes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable shoe sole and, more particularly, to a shoe sole that can be folded even after it has been used to make a shoe.

Shoes can protect the feet of a wearer and include shoe soles preventing the soles of the feet from direction contact and friction with the ground. Different shoes can be made from shoe soles according to different types and functions.

Folding of the shoes is limited by the shapes of the shoe soles which form the basic structure of the shoes. Conventional shoe soles have a relatively large area and are, thus, difficult to be folded for storage in a luggage during a trip. The shoes may deform permanently if they are forcibly bent. Footwear suitable for substitution during trips includes, but is not limited to, beach shoes, sandals, slippers, and leisure shoes.

Thus, a need exists for a novel foldable shoe sole that mitigates and/or obviates the above disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foldable shoe sole according to the present invention includes an upper sole and a lower sole fixed to an underside of the upper sole. The upper sole is adapted to contact with a sole of a foot of a wearer. The lower sole is adapted to face a ground. The lower sole includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a third sheet. The first sheet is located between the second sheet and the third sheet. The first sheet includes triangular cross sections and has a first apex, a second apex, and a third apex. The first apex is located on an inner side of the foldable shoe sole. The second and third apexes are located on an outer side of the foldable shoe sole. A first groove is formed between the second sheet and a first side of the lower sole extending between the first and second apexes. A second groove is formed between the third sheet and a second side of the lower sole extending between the first and third apexes. The second sheet is bendable relative to the first sheet along the first groove. The first sheet is bendable relative to the third sheet along the second groove. Thus, the foldable shoe sole can be folded for storage purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a foldable shoe sole of a first example according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the foldable shoe sole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the foldable shoe sole of FIG. 1, with the foldable shoe sole folded along a first groove.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the foldable shoe sole of FIG. 3, with the foldable shoe sole folded along a second groove.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of footwear made from the foldable shoe sole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 5, with the foot wear folded.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a shoe sole of a second example according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the shoe sole of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foldable shoe sole 1 according to the present invention includes an upper sole 11 and a lower sole 12 fixed to an underside of the upper sole 11. The upper sole 11 is adapted to contact with a sole of a foot of a wearer. The lower sole 12 is adapted to face a ground. The lower sole 12 includes a first sheet 121, a second sheet 122, and a third sheet 123. The first sheet 121 is located between the second sheet 122 and the third sheet 123. The first sheet 121 includes triangular cross sections and has a first apex, a second apex, and a third apex. The first apex is located on an inner side of the foldable shoe sole 1. The second and third apexes are located on an outer side of the foldable shoe sole 1. A first groove 124 is formed between the second sheet 122 and a first side of the lower sole 12 extending between the first and second apexes. A second groove 125 is formed between the third sheet 123 and a second side of the lower sole 12 extending between the first and third apexes.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the second sheet 122 and a corresponding portion of the upper sole 11 can be bent relative to the first sheet 121 along the first groove 124. Then, the first and second sheets 121 and 122 and their corresponding portions can be bent relative to the third sheet 123 along the second groove 125. Thus, the foldable shoe sole 1 can be folded for storage purposes.

With reference to FIG. 2, a heel pad 126 is fixed to the lower sole 12 and adapted to be aligned with a heel of the foot of the wearer, providing a buffering effect for the heel of the wearer.

With reference to FIG. 5, a catching portion 2 can be mounted to the upper sole 11 to form footwear A. such as a beach shoe, a sandal, a slipper, or a leisure shoe. The catching portion 2 can be of any desired type and any desired pattern. In the form shown in FIG. 5, the catching portion 2 includes a string. However, other forms for positioning the foot of the wearer can be used.

FIG. 6 shows folding of the footwear A of FIG. 5 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The foldable shoe sole 1 according to the present invention can be used to make the footwear A that can be folded to reduce its size such that the footwear A can be placed into a luggage for substitution during trips. The folded footwear A can be placed in a bag before placed in the luggage, avoiding dirtying the other objects in the luggage. The shoes taken off from the foot of the wearer and substituted by the footwear A can be placed in the bag and placed in the luggage.

The foldable shoe sole 1 according to the present invention can be assembled with a catching portion 2 of any desired type and any desired function to form desired footwear A, such as a beach shoe, a sandal, a slipper, or a leisure shoe.

The first and second grooves 124 and 125 can be formed by arranging the positions of the first, second, and third sheets 121, 122, and 123. The upper sole 11 is not damaged while forming the first and second grooves 124 and 125, providing comfortable touch to the wearer.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another example of the present invention, wherein an intermediate layer 127 is provided on inner faces of the first, second, and third sheets 121, 122, and 123. The intermediate layer 127 is bonded to the upper sole 11 to initially connect the first, second, and third sheets 121, 122, and 123 together, preventing the first, second, and third sheets 121, 122, and 123 from falling apart during processing. 

1. A foldable shoe sole (1) comprising an upper sole (11) and a lower sole (12) fixed to an underside of the upper sole (11), with the upper sole (11) adapted to contact with a sole of a foot of a wearer, with the lower sole (12) adapted to face a ground, with the lower sole (12) including a first sheet (121), a second sheet (122), and a third sheet (123), with the first sheet (121) located between the second sheet (122) and the third sheet (123), with the first sheet (121) including triangular cross sections and having a first apex, a second apex, and a third apex, with the first apex located on an inner side of the foldable shoe sole (1), with the second and third apexes located on an outer side of the foldable shoe sole (1), with a first groove (124) formed between the second sheet (122) and a first side of the lower sole (12) extending between the first and second apexes, with a second groove (125) formed between the third sheet (123) and a second side of the lower sole (12) extending between the first and third apexes, with the second sheet (122) bendable relative to the first sheet (121) along the first groove (124), with the first sheet (121) bendable relative to the third sheet (123) along the second groove (125).
 2. The foldable shoe sole (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heel pad (126) fixed to the lower sole (12), with the heel pad (126) adapted to be aligned with a heel of the foot of the wearer.
 3. The foldable shoe sole (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer (127) provided on inner faces of the first, second, and third sheet (121, 122, 123), with the intermediate layer (127) bonded to the upper sole (11). 